Apparatus, method, and program for converting information

ABSTRACT

An information converting apparatus includes an additional information retrieval unit for retrieving additional information incidental to moving image data stored on a stream file having a first recording format, an additional information converting unit for converting the retrieved additional information in accordance with a second recording format, and an additional information recording control unit for controlling recording of the converted additional information onto a stream file having the second recording format.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention contains subject matter related to Japanese PatentApplication JP 2007-214215 filed in the Japanese Patent Office on Aug.21, 2007, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an information converting apparatusand, in particular, to an information converting apparatus, aninformation converting method, and a computer program for convertingadditional information incidental to moving image data.

2. Description of the Related Art

Digital still cameras for capturing a still image can record, in theform of metadata, additional information such as camera informationincluding image recording time and date. Digital still cameras recordingthe additional information of still image data in accordance withExchangeable Image File Format (Exif) standard (standardized by JapanElectronic Industry Development Association (JEIDA)) are in widespreaduse (as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application PublicationNo. 2006-211324). Some camcorders (camera and recorders) recordadditional information of moving image data (video data and audio data).For example, Japanese Patent No. 3873952 discloses an informationrecording apparatus that records additional recording information(ARI-PCK) on a digital versatile disk (DVD).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The AVCHD Standard has been proposed. The proposed AVCHD standard isintended to record and play digital high-definition video higher inresolution than ever. In accordance with the AVCHD standard, additionalinformation is recorded onto a stream file referred to as a modifieddigital video pack (MDP).

The AVCHD standard does not need display of additional informationcontained in the MDP on a reproducing apparatus. The additionalinformation recorded on the MDP may not be displayed on some of thereproducing apparatuses complying with the AVCHD standard. Theadditional information may entirely be missing if the additionalinformation is copied from a recording medium complying with the AVCHDstandard to a recording medium complying with another standard.

It is thus desirable to convert in the moving image data the additionalinformation, the displaying of which is not necessary in the AVCHDstandard, into a state usable on a different reproducing apparatus.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, aninformation converting apparatus includes additional informationretrieval means for retrieving additional information incidental tomoving image data stored on a stream file having a first recordingformat, additional information converting means for converting theretrieved additional information in accordance with a second recordingformat, and additional information recording control means forcontrolling recording of the converted additional information onto astream file having the second recording format. The present inventionalso relates to a method of the information converting apparatus and acomputer program for causing a computer to perform the method of theinformation converting apparatus. With this arrangement, the additionalinformation of the moving image data recorded on the stream file havingthe first recording format is converted and recoded onto the stream filehaving the second recording format.

The additional information may include image recording time and date ofthe moving image data.

The additional information in the first recording format may includedata having no display style. The additional information in the firstrecording format may include information that is recorded as a modifieddigital video pack defined by the AVCHD standard. The additionalinformation in the first recording format may include image recordingtime and date information attached to a chapter mark, or time and dateinformation on a file system of a stream file of audio-visual data.

The information converting apparatus may further include display stylespecifying means for specifying a display style of the additionalinformation in the second recording format. With this arrangement, theadditional information is recorded in the specified display style. Theadditional information in the second recording format may include textdata arranged in the display style specified by the display stylespecifying means. The additional information in the second recordingformat may include information recorded as a text subtitle in accordancewith the Blu-ray disk standard. The additional information in the secondrecording format may include bitmap data arranged in the display stylespecified by the display style specifying means. For example, theadditional information in the second recording format may be asubpicture unit on a digital versatile disk (DVD) or presentationgraphics in accordance with the Blu-ray disk standard. The additionalinformation in the second recording format may be the one overlaid onvideo data in accordance with re-encoding.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, aninformation converting apparatus, includes additional informationretrieval means for retrieving first additional information of movingimage data recorded on a stream file, additional information convertingmeans for converting the retrieved first additional information intosecond additional information, and additional information recordingcontrol means for controlling recording of the converted secondadditional information in the same format as the stream file. Thepresent invention also relates to a method of the information convertingapparatus and a computer program of the method of the informationconverting apparatus. The first additional information of the movingimage data recorded on the stream file is thus recorded as the secondadditional information on the stream file having the same recordingformat.

The information converting apparatus may further include display stylespecifying means for specifying a display style of the second additionalinformation. With this arrangement, the additional information isrecorded in accordance with the specified display style. The firstadditional information may include data having no display style. Thefirst additional information may include information recorded as amodified digital video pack defined by the AVCHD standard. The firstadditional information may include image recording time and dateinformation attached to a chapter mark, or time and date information ona file system of a stream file of audio visual data. The secondadditional information may include bitmap data arranged in the displaystyle specified by the display style specifying means. The secondadditional information may include information recorded as an overlaybitmap defined by the AVCHD standard. The additional information in thesecond recording format may be the one overlaid on video data byre-encoding.

In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the additionalinformation of the moving image data, the displaying of which is notnecessary in the AVCHD standard, is thus converted into a state usableon a different reproducing apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an information converting apparatus in a firstconfiguration thereof in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a table listing a relationship between a style of recording ofadditional information and a recording format of the additionalinformation;

FIG. 3 illustrates a data structure of the AVCHD standard;

FIG. 4 illustrates a movie object and the position thereof with respectto the AVCHD standard;

FIG. 5 illustrates a file structure of the AVCHD standard;

FIG. 6 illustrates a general structure of data of a modified digitalvideo pack (MDP) of the AVCHD standard;

FIG. 7 illustrates correspondence between the ID (identification) of theMDP and the additional information in accordance with the AVCHDstandard;

FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate a data structure of the MDP representingimage recording time and date in accordance with the AVCHD standard;

FIG. 9 illustrates a data structure of a time zone in accordance withthe AVCHD standard;

FIGS. 10A-10C illustrate a structure of a stream file containing a textsubtitle in accordance with Blu-ray disk (BD) standard;

FIG. 11 illustrates a data structure of a text subtitle stream inaccordance with the BD standard;

FIGS. 12A and 12B illustrate a data structure of a segment in accordancewith the BD standard;

FIG. 13 illustrates a data structure of a dialog style set in accordancewith the BD standard;

FIG. 14 illustrates a process performed by the information convertingapparatus in the first configuration thereof in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 illustrates a data structure illustrating a playlist file inaccordance with the AVCHD standard;

FIG. 16 illustrates a data structure of a block “blkPlayListMarkExt( )”in accordance with the AVCHD standard;

FIG. 17 illustrates an information converting apparatus in a secondconfiguration thereof in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 18A and 18B illustrate a data structure of a bitmap unit containedin an overlay bit map in accordance with the AVCHD standard;

FIG. 19 illustrates a type of the bit map unit in accordance with theAVCHD standard;

FIGS. 20A and 20B illustrate a data structure of an “object unit” inaccordance with the AVCHD standard;

FIG. 21 illustrates a data structure of a block “blkPlayItem( )” inaccordance with the AVCHD standard;

FIG. 22 illustrates a data structure of a block “blkSTNTable( )” inaccordance with the AVCHD standard;

FIG. 23 illustrates a data structure of a block “blkStreamEntry( )” inaccordance with the AVCHD standard;

FIG. 24 illustrates a data structure of a block “blkStreamAttributes( )”in accordance with the AVCHD standard;

FIG. 25 illustrates a data structure of a clip information file inaccordance with the AVCHD standard;

FIG. 26 illustrates a data structure of a block “blkStreamCodingInfo( )”in accordance with the AVCHD standard; and

FIG. 27 illustrates a process performed by the information convertingapparatus in the second configuration thereof in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The embodiments of the present invention are described below withreference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates an information converting apparatus 300 in a firstconfiguration thereof in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention. The information converting apparatus 300 in the firstconfiguration thereof converts audio-visual data (moving image data) andadditional information, recorded on a first audio-visualrecording-format data storage 380, and records the converted data onto asecond recording-format data storage 390. The first audio-visualrecording-format data storage 380 includes an audio-visual data storageunit 381 that records thereon the audio-visual data in a first recordingformat and an additional information storage unit 382 that recordsthereon the additional information in the same format. The secondrecording-format data storage 390 includes an audio-visual data storageunit 391 that records thereon the audio-visual data in a secondrecording format and an additional information storage unit 392 thatrecords the additional information in the same format.

The information converting apparatus 300 in the first configurationthereof includes an audio-visual data retriever 311, an audio-visualdata converter 312, an audio-visual data recording controller 313, anadditional information retriever 321, an additional informationconverter 322, an additional information recording controller 323, and adisplay style specifier 329.

The audio-visual data retriever 311 retrieves the audio-visual data fromthe audio-visual data storage unit 381. The retrieved audio-visual datais then supplied to the audio-visual data converter 312.

The audio-visual data converter 312 converts the audio-visual datasupplied from the audio-visual data retriever 311 from the firstrecording format to the second recording format. The format convertedaudio-visual data is then supplied to the audio-visual data recordingcontroller 313.

The audio-visual data recording controller 313 controls recording of theaudio-visual data supplied from the audio-visual data converter 312 ontothe audio-visual data storage unit 391. The audio-visual data in thesecond recording format is thus recorded onto the audio-visual datastorage unit 391.

The additional information retriever 321 retrieves the additionalinformation from the additional information storage unit 382. Theretrieved audio-visual data is supplied to the additional informationconverter 322.

The additional information converter 322 converts the additionalinformation supplied from the additional information retriever 321 fromthe first recording format to the second recording format. The formatconverted data is supplied to the additional information recordingcontroller 323.

The additional information recording controller 323 controls recordingof the additional information supplied from the additional informationconverter 322 on the additional information storage unit 392. Theadditional information in the second recording format is thus recordedonto the additional information storage unit 392.

The display style specifier 329 specifies a display style of theadditional information in the second recording format. The additionalinformation converter 322 thus converts the additional information inaccordance with the display style specified by the display stylespecifier 329. The display style specifier 329 may be a unit that storesfixed data onto a read-only memory (ROM) or the like, or may be a userinterface that receives a user operation input.

FIG. 2 illustrates a relationship between a style of storing theadditional information and a recording format. Recording formats ofmoving image data include an AVCHD format, a DVD format, and a Blu-raydisc (BD) format. The styles of storing the additional informationinclude data having no display style, display-style driven data, bitmapdata, and video encode data.

A display style specified onto the text data may include attributes suchas a font type, size, style (italic, bold, etc.), outline, and linespace.

In accordance with the AVCHD standard, the data having no display stylemay be stored as a modified digital video pack (MDP). The DVD and BDformats do not define any particular data having no display style. Butsuch data can be stored by expanding privately the respective standards.

The AVCHD and DVD standards define no function to store display-styledriven text data. The BD standard allows the display-style driven textdata to be stored as a text subtitle.

Each character is stored as a character code thereof in the case of textdata and each character is stored as a bit pattern in the case of a bitmap. Also, each character is can be stored as an overlay bitmap (OB) ora menu bitmap (BM) in accordance with the AVCHD standard, as asub-picture unit (SPU) in accordance with the DVD standard, or aspresentation graphics or interactive graphics in accordance with the BDstandard.

A video encoding style for superimposing a bitmap onto a video is usedin each of the AVCHD, DVD and BD standards by performing a re-encodingprocess. However, since the bitmap that is superimposed onto the videothrough the re-encoding process is integrated with the video, it isdifficult to separate the bitmap from the video again.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the firstrecording format is set to be the AVCHD standard and the secondrecording format is set to be one of the DVD and the BD standards. TheAVCHD format is described below.

FIG. 3 illustrates a data structure in accordance with the AVCHDstandard. The AVCHD standard handles the AV data (audio-visual data) ina layer structure. The layer structure of the AVCHD standard is mainlycomposed of an index table, a movie object, a playlist, a clipinformation file, and a clip AV stream file.

The clip AV stream file is a bit stream that is produced by multiplexingvideo data (image data) and audio data through an MPEG 2 transportstream (TS) format. Multiplexed into the clip AV stream file are anoverlay bitmap (OB) stream as a graphic stream for displaying asubtitle, and a menu bitmap (MB) stream as a stream of data for use inmenu displaying (button image data).

The clip information file stores, as clip information, informationrelated to the clip AV stream file. The clip information file contains amapping (conversion) table or the like, mapping a time position to aspace position (address) in the clip AV stream file. If an access pointin the clip AV stream file is specified by time, an appropriate addresson the clip AV stream file is accessed by referencing the mapping table.

The clip AV stream file and the clip information file storing the clipinformation corresponding thereto are collectively referred to as aclip. The clip AV stream file and the clip information file, forming theclip, are related to each other on a one-to-one correspondence basis. Asshown in FIG. 3, clip information 741 stores information related to astream 751, clip information 742 stores information related to a stream752, clip information 743 stores information related to a stream 753,and clip information 744 stores information related to a stream 754.

The play list (PlayList) contains a clip to be played and informationrelated to a play start point and a play end point of the clip. Theinformation related to the play start point and the play end point isreferred to as a play item (PlayItem). One PlayList contains at least onplay item. The playing of the clip is performed through the play list.More specifically, the play items contained in the play list aresuccessively played by playing the play list. A period corresponding toeach clip is thus played in accordance with the play start point and theplay end point in the play item.

A play list mark is attached to each play item. The play item issegmented into a plurality of chapters by the play list marks.Conversely, a plurality of PlayItems may be contained in a singlechapter.

The PlayLists include a real PlayList and a virtual PlayList. The realPlayList stores at least one clips basically in the order of recording.No time gap is present within one real PlayList and no overlap takesplace between real PlayLists. The virtual PlayList stores part or wholeof clips of any number equal to or larger than one corresponding to thereal PlayList. As shown in FIG. 3, the PlayItems 731, 732, 733, 734, and735 belong to the real PlayList, and PlayItems 736 and 737 belong to thevirtual PlayList.

The MovieObject contains a navigation command program and the like. Thenavigation command program is a group of commands for controlling theplaying of the PlayList and a process subsequent to the playing. Asshown in FIG. 3, the MovieObject#1 (721) is to play a real PlayList#00000, a (722) is to play a real PlayList #00200, a (723) is to play areal PlayList #00018, and a (724) is to play a virtual PlayList #01005.

The index table is the highest table defining a title of a contentrecorded on a recording medium. The index table contains at least onemovie title and each movie title points to a MovieObject. As shown inFIG. 3, a movie title #1 (711) points to the MovieObject #1 (721), amovie title #2 (712) points to the MovieObject #2 (722), a movie title#3 (713) points to the MovieObject #3 (723), and a movie title #4 (714)points to the MovieObject #4 (724). A player apparatus controls playingof the content based on the title information stored in the index table.

FIG. 4 illustrates a MovieObject and other objects surrounding theMovieObject in the AVCHD standard. In addition to the movie title, theindex table contains a first playback title 719 and a menu title 718.The first playback title 719 points to a MovieObject of a title to beplayed first. The menu title 718 points to a MovieObject correspondingto a menu screen.

The start of playing title #1 may be instructed now. The movie title #1(711) points to the movie object #1 (721), and a navigation commandprogram contained in the movie object #1 (721) is thus executed.

When a command 7201 to play a PlayList #1 (730) is executed in theMovieObject #1 (721), the PlayItems in the PlayList #1 (730) aresuccessively performed. The corresponding clip is performed via thePlayList #1 (730). As shown in FIG. 4, a PlayItem #1 (731), a PlayItem#2 (732), . . . are played in that order. When the playing of a PlayItem#9 (739) is completed, processing returns to the MovieObject #1 (721).

Processing returns to the menu title in response to the navigationprogram command in the MovieObject #1 (721) (7202). Control is thustransferred to the menu title 718.

FIG. 5 illustrates a file structure of the AVCHD standard. A directory“BDMV” 810 containing contents of the clip is arranged under a rootdirectory 800 of the recording medium. As necessary, a directory“AVCHDTN” 880 containing thumbnails is arranged under the rootdirectory.

A file index.bdmv 820 and a file “MovieObject.bdmv” 830 are arrangeddirectly under the directory BDMV 810. Also arranged under the directoryBDMV 810 are a directory “PLAYLIST” 840, a directory “CLIPINF” 850, adirectory “STREAM” 860, and a directory “BACKUP” 870.

The file index.bdmv 820, storing the content of the directory BDMV 810,corresponds to the index table discussed with reference to FIG. 3. Thefile MovieObject.bdmv 830, storing information regarding theMovieObject, corresponds to the MovieObject discussed with reference toFIG. 3.

The directory PLAYLIST 840 has the database of the PlayList. Thedirectory PLAYLIST 840 contains files 841 through 843 related to thePlayList. A file name of each file in the directory PLAYLIST 840contains a five-digit number and an extension. Out of the five-digitnumbers, 1000 numbers of from “00000” to “00999” are for real PlayLists,and 200 numbers of from “01000” to “01199” are for the virtualPlayLists. The extension of each file is “.mpls.”

The directory CLIPINF 850 has a database of clips. The directory CLIPINF850 contains files 851 through 853 as clip information filesrespectively corresponding to clip AV stream files. The file name ofeach file in the directory CLIPINF 850 contains a five-digit number andan extension. The extension of each file is “.clpi.”

The directory STREAM 860 stores an AV stream file as a body. Thedirectory STREAM 860 stores clip information files 861 through 863respectively corresponding to clip information files. Each file in thedirectory STREAM 860 is an MPEG-2 transport stream. The file name ofeach file contains a five-digit number and an extension. The five-digitnumber portion of the file name is set to be the same as thecorresponding clip information file, thereby indicating thecorrespondence between the clip information file and the clip AV streamfile. The extension of each file is “.m2ts.”

The directory BACKUP 870 stores the backup of the above-describeddirectories and files.

The directory AVCHDTN 880 stores two types of thumbnail files“thumbnail.tidx” 881 and “thumbnail.tdt2” 882. The thumbnail filethumbnail.tidx 881 stores index information indexing the each imagedata. The thumbnail file thumbnail.tdt2 882 is a set of thumbnail imagedata.

FIG. 6 generally illustrates a data structure of a modified digitalvideo pack (MDP) in accordance with the AVCHD standard. The datastructure shown in FIG. 6 is a syntax based on the C programminglanguage description method.

The MDP is stored as user data in an elementary stream (ES) of videodata. A field “uuid_iso_iec_(—)11578” in the user data has a data lengthof 128 bits, and a universally unique identifier defined in “ISO/IEC11578” standard represents an identifier of the user data.

A field “type_indicator” has a data length of 32 bits, and indicates thedata type of the user data. If the data type is “0x4741 3934”(hereinafter 0x means that the number in succession thereto is ahexadecimal number), the user data is subtitle data (cc_data) of aclosed caption (CC), and if the data type is “0x4D44 504D,” the userdata is metadata of MDP (ModifiedDVPackMeta).

The MDP metadata contains any number of entries of MDP(one_modified_dv_pack), each entry being 40 bits long. The number ofentries is stored in an 8-bit long field“number_of_modified_dv_pack_entries.” One MDP contains an 8-bit longfield “mdp_id” indicating ID of MDP, and a 32-bit long field “mdp_data”indicating the MDP data.

FIG. 7 illustrates the correspondence between the ID of the MDP and theadditional information in the AVCHD standard. As shown in FIG. 7, theadditional information of the MDP contains information regarding theimage recording time and date, information regarding image capturingconditions such as exposure time and F-number, information regarding theglobal positioning system (GPS), and information regarding camera.

MDP IDs 0x18 and 0x19 represent image recording time and date. Thefollowing discussion is based on this image recording time and date.

FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate a data structure of the MDP indicating therecording time and date in accordance with the AVCHD standard. Aspreviously described with reference to FIG. 6, each MDP permits only adata length of 32 bits to be stored, and the recording time and date isstored in two MDPs. FIG. 8A illustrates “REC TIME & DATE 1” and the IDof this MDP is 0x18 as previously discussed with reference to FIG. 7.FIG. 8B illustrates “REC TIME & DATE 2” and the ID of this MDP is 0x19as previously discussed with reference to FIG. 7.

The data of the MDP contains an 8-bit long block “blkTimeZone” and a24-bit long field “RecordTimeAndDate1_of_(—)2” or a 32-bit long field“RecordTimeAndDate2_of_(—)2”. The recording time and date arerepresented by data of 56 bits long composed of the 24-bit long field“RecordTimeAndDate1_of_(—)2” and the 32-bit long field“RecordTimeAndDate2_of_(—)2”. More specifically, the recording time anddate are represented by a total of 14 digits, namely, the year (4digits), the month (2 digits), the day (2 digits), the hour (2 digits),the minute (2 digits), and the second (2 digits), each represented in 4bits binary coded decimal (BCD).

FIG. 9 illustrates a data structure of a time zone in accordance withthe AVCHD standard. A block “blkTimeZone” in the MDP data discussed withreference to FIG. 8 includes a padding bit, a 1-bit long field“DaylightSavingTimeFlag” indicating whether the daylight saving time isapplied, a 1-bit long field “TimeZoneSign” indicating the sign of atime-zone difference, a 4-bit long field “TimeZoneValue” indicating thevalue of the time-zone difference (by hour), and a 1-bit long field“HalfHourFlag” indicating the value of the time-zone difference (by halfhour). More specifically, the block “blkTimeZone” indicates thetime-zone difference with respect to the Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

In accordance with the AVCHD standard, the additional informationincluding the recording time and date is retrieved as the additionalinformation in the first recording format using the MDP. The additionalinformation thus retrieved is recorded as a text subtitle of the BD asdescribed below.

FIGS. 10A-10C illustrate a stream file 510 containing a text subtitle inaccordance with the BD standard. As shown in FIG. 10A, the stream file510 containing the text subtitle is handled as a transport streamcomposed of a plurality of transport packets (TP511 as shown) duringtransmission. A packet identifier (PID) of the transport packet is“0x1800.”

During recording or playing, the stream file 510 is converted into astream having the unit of packetized elementary stream (PES) packet 521as shown in FIG. 10B. As shown in FIG. 10C, a leading PES packet of theplurality of PES packets forming the stream file containing the textsubtitle is attribute data referred to as a dialog style segment 531.The PES packet in succession to the leading PES packet is a characterobject referred to as a dialog presentation segment 532. Morespecifically, the dialog presentation segment 532 stores the characterobject (text data) such as the recording time and date, and the dialogstyle segment 531 stores the attribute data such as a font size and aline space.

FIG. 11 illustrates a data structure of a text subtitle stream definedin the BD standard. As previously discussed, the text subtitle streamcontains one dialog style segment 531 and any number of dialogpresentation segments 532. In the text subtitle stream, the dialog stylesegment 531 is followed by the number of dialog presentation segments532 defined in a 16-bit long field

“number_of_dialog_presentation_segements.”

FIGS. 12A and 12B illustrate a data structure of the segment inaccordance with the BD standard. This data structure is identical toboth the dialog style segment 531 and the dialog presentation segment532. FIG. 12A generally illustrates the segment. A field“segment_descriptor” within the segment contains an 8-bit long field“segment_type” and a 16-bit long field “segment_length” as shown in FIG.12B.

The field “segment_type” represents the type of this segment. If thesegment is the dialog style segment 531, the field “segment_type” stores“0x81” and if the segment is the dialog presentation segment 532, thefield “segment_type” stores “0x82.” The field “segment_length” indicatesthe number of bytes of this segment.

Data responsive to the type of the segment is stored in a field“segment_data” of FIG. 12A. Text data to be displayed is stored in thecase of the dialog presentation segment 532, and a dialog style setindicating the attribute data is stored in the case of the dialog stylesegment 531.

FIG. 13 illustrates a data structure of the dialog style set inaccordance with the BD standard.

A leading one-bit long field “player_style_flag” specifies whether amodification to a user's own style is permitted or not.

A next 15-bit long reserved area is followed by an 8-bit long field“number_of_region_styles” indicating the number of region styles. Theterm region means a display area, and the term region style means astyle of display area. The region style is defined by “region_style” inthe dialog style set.

A subsequent 8-bit long field “number_of_user_styles” indicates thenumber of user styles. The user style refers to the user's own style towhich the above-described style in the display area is modified by theuser. The user style is defined in “user_changeable_style_set” in thedialog style set.

As shown in FIG. 13, a field “region_style” defines informationregarding the region (position, width, height, background color, etc.),information regarding the text box in the region (position, width,height, etc.), and information regarding the font (size, style, etc.).

A field “user_changeable_style_set” specifies an amount of modificationto each item (not shown) defined by the field “region_style.”

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the displaystyle specified by the display style specifier 329 is reflected in thefield “region_style” or the field “user_changeable_style_set” when theadditional information in the first recording format is converted by theadditional information converter 322. The display style of theadditional information in the second recording format is thusdetermined.

FIG. 14 illustrates a process of the information converting apparatus300 in the first configuration thereof in accordance with one embodimentof the present invention.

The MDP of the above-described user data is searched in the AVCHD streamfile in the first recording format (step S911). The recording time anddate are extracted from the fields “REC TIME & DATE 1” and “REC TIME &DATE 2” of the hit MDP (step S912).

In response to the extracted recording time and date, the characterobject (text data) is generated to match the dialog presentation segment532 in the BD text subtitle in the second recording format as aconversion destination (step S913).

In response to the display style specified by the display stylespecifier 329, the attribute data is generated to match the dialog stylesegment 531 in the BD text subtitle (step S914). For example, theattribute data generated and set contains a font type, a font size, afont style, a position, a display start time, a display end time, acharacter color, a background color, transparency, etc.

The character object and the attribute data, thus generated, arerecorded as a BD text subtitle stream (step S915).

These steps are iterated (loop L901) until processing of the AVCHDstream file as a conversion source is completed. Management informationof the text subtitle in a BD management file is recorded (step S916).The conversion process is then completed. The BD management file ismanaged under the same environment as the data structure of the AVCHDdiscussed with reference to FIG. 3. More specifically, the clipinformation file (management file) managing the stream file containingthe text subtitle is defined. The entire BD is managed when the playlist file references the clip information file.

In the above example, the MDP is stored in the additional informationstorage unit 382 in the first recording format and the recording timeand date are extracted from the MDP. The retrieval source of therecording time and date is not limited to the MDP. The recording timeand date attached to a chapter mark of the play list may be retrieved asdescribed below. Alternatively, the recording time and date may beretrieved from the file system of the stream file of the audio-visualdata.

FIG. 15 illustrates a data structure of the playlist file in accordancewith the AVCHD standard. In the playlist file, a field “TypeIndicator,”having a data length of 32 bits (8 bits×4 bytes), is an identifierindicating that this file is a playlist file. A field “TypeIndicator2,”having a data length of 32 bits, stores a fixed value.

The playlist contains a block “blkAppInfoPlayList( ),” a block“blkPlayList( ),” a block “blkPlayListMark( ),” and a block“blkExtensionData( ).” A field “PlayListStartAddress,” a field“PlayListMarkStartAddress,” and a field “ExtensionDataStartAddress,”each having a data length of 32 bits, respectively show start addressesof the block “blkPlayList( ),” the block “blkPlayListMark( ),” and theblock “blkExtensionData( )”.

The block “blkAppInfoPlayList( )” starts subsequent to a field“reserved” having a data length of 160 bits that follows theabove-described start addresses. The block “blkAppInfoPlayList( )”contains information relating to the type and play order of the playlistdescribed in a next block “blkPlayList( ).” The block “blkPlayList( )”describes the playlist. The block “blkPlayListMark” describes as achapter mark a point of jump destination in chapter jumping. The block“blkExtensionData( )” stores extension data related to the playlist.

FIG. 16 illustrates a data structure of a block “blkPlayListMarkExt( )”in accordance with the AVCHD standard. The block “blkPlayListMarkExt( )”is contained in the block “blkExtensionData( )” of the playlistdiscussed with reference to FIG. 15 and stores extension data related tothe chapter mark.

The block “blkPlayListMarkExt( )” contains a field “Length” indicatingthe data length, a field “NumberOfPlayListMarks” indicating the numberof chapter marks, and further a block “blkMarkExtension” for eachchapter mark.

The block “blkMarkExtension” stores a block “blkTimeZone” discussed withreference to FIG. 9 and the recording time and date “RecordTimeAndDate”in 14 BCD digits described with reference to FIGS. 8A and 8B. Thesepieces of information are thus retrieved as the recording time and datein the first recording format to be processed by the additionalinformation converter 322.

In the above discussion, the additional information storage unit 392 forthe second recording format is based on the BD text subtitle and therecording time and date is converted into the text subtitle. However,the conversion destination of the recording time and date is not limitedto the text subtitle. For example, the recording time and date may beconverted into a bitmap such as BD presentation graphics or a DVDsubpicture unit. Furthermore, the recording time and date may bere-encoded with the character thereof superimposed on the video.

In the above example, the additional information is converted betweendifferent formats. The same process may be performed within the sameformat. In the discussion that follows, the additional information isconverted within the same format.

FIG. 17 illustrates the information converting apparatus 300 in a secondconfiguration thereof in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention. The information converting apparatus 300 in the secondconfiguration thereof converts the additional information stored on afirst additional information storage unit 372 in a data storage 370 andrecords the converted additional information onto a second additionalinformation storage unit 373.

The data storage 370 includes an audio-visual data storage unit 371storing the audio-visual data, and further the first additionalinformation storage unit 372 and the second additional informationstorage unit 373, each storing the additional information. In thisexample, the first additional information storage unit 372 and thesecond additional information storage unit 373 are arranged in the datastorage 370. Given the same format, however, the first additionalinformation storage unit 372 and the second additional informationstorage unit 373 may be arranged in different recording media. Forexample, data in the AVCHD standard on a semiconductor recording mediummay be dubbed onto an optical disk-like recording medium as data in theAVCHD standard. In such a case, the information converting apparatus 300in the second configuration may be used.

The information converting apparatus 300 in the second configurationthereof includes an additional information retriever 331, an additionalinformation converter 332, an additional information recordingcontroller 333, and a display style specifier 339.

The additional information retriever 331 retrieves the additionalinformation from the first additional information storage unit 372. Theretrieved additional information is then supplied to the additionalinformation converter 332.

The additional information converter 332 converts the additionalinformation supplied from the additional information retriever 331 froma first additional information form to a second additional informationform. The converted additional information is then supplied to theadditional information recording controller 333.

The additional information recording controller 333 controls recordingof the additional information supplied from the additional informationconverter 332 onto the second additional information storage unit 373.In this way, the second additional information storage unit 373 recordsthe additional information in a form different from the additionalinformation stored on the first additional information storage unit 372.

The display style specifier 339 specifies the display style of theadditional information to be recorded onto the second additionalinformation storage unit 373. The additional information converter 332converts the additional information in accordance with the display stylespecified by the display style specifier 339. As the display stylespecifier 329, the display style specifier 339 may be a unit that storesfixed data onto a random-access memory (ROM) or the like, or may be auser interface that receives a user operation input.

The information converting apparatus 300 in the second configurationthereof converts the additional information stored on the MDP complyingwith the AVCHD standard into an overlay bit map in accordance with theAVCHD standard and then stores the resulting overlay bit map. The MDPhas been discussed with reference to FIGS. 6 through 9. The overlay bitmap of the AVCHD standard is described below.

FIGS. 18A and 18B illustrate a data structure of a bitmap unit containedin the overlay bit map of the AVCHD standard. FIG. 18A illustrates thedata structure of the entire bit map, and a field “UnitDescriptor( )”within the bit map contains an 8-bit long field “UnitType” and a 16-bitlong field “UnitLength” as shown in FIG. 18B.

The field “UnitType” indicates the type of the bitmap unit, and data ofthis type is stored in a field “UnitData( )” of the bit map. The field“UnitLength” indicates the number of bytes of the bitmap unit.

FIG. 19 illustrates the type of the bitmap unit of the AVCHD standard.If the field “UnitType” of FIG. 18B contains “0x14,” “Palette Unit” isstored on the field “UnitData( ).” The “Palette Unit” contains a colorof each pixel, a transparency information table, etc.

If the field “UnitType” contains “0x15,” “Object Unit” is stored on thefield “UnitData( ).” The “Object Unit” contains a bitmap data body,position and size information thereof, etc.

If the field “UnitType” contains “0x16,” “Overlay BitMap Compilation” isstored on the field “UnitData( ).” The “Overlay Bitmap Compilation”contains the type of display information regarding the overlay bitmap,additional information regarding an object and a window, and otherinformation.

If the field “UnitType” contains “0x17,” “Window Unit” is stored on thefield “UnitData( ).” The “Window Unit” contains information regarding adisplay period within a window, and other information.

If the field “UnitType” contains “0x18,” “Menu Bitmap Compilation Unit”is stored on the field “UnitData( ).” The “Menu Bitmap Compilation Unit”contains information regarding the type of display information regardinga menu bitmap, information regarding the object and the window, andother information.

If the field “UnitType” contains “0x80,” “End Unit” is stored on thefield “UnitData( ).” The “End Unit” contains ending information of aunit of displaying.

FIGS. 20A and 20B illustrate a data structure of the “Object Unit” ofthe AVCHD standard. If the field “UnitType” contains “0x15,” the “ObjectUnit” is stored on the field “UnitData( )” of the bitmap unit.

As shown in FIG. 20A, the “Object Unit” contains a 24-bit long field“UnitDescriptor( ),” a 16-bit long field “ObjectID”, an 8-bit long field“ObjectVersionNumber,” a field “SequenceDescriptor,” and a field“ObjectData( ).”

As shown in FIG. 20B, the “ObjectData( )” stores a 24-bit long field“ObjectDataLength” indicating a data length of an object, a 16-bit longfield “ObjectWidth” indicating a width of the object, a 16-bit longfield “ObjectHeight” indicating a height of the object, and a field“RunLengthEncodedLine( )” indicating runlength coded bitmap data.

In accordance with the AVCHD standard, the runlength coded bitmap datais stored in the “Object Unit” of the bitmap unit contained in theoverlay bit map. Also, in accordance with the AVCHD standard, managementinformation is stored as described below. A block “blkSTNTable( )” and ablock “blkStreamCodingInfo( )” are described as examples of themanagement information. The block “blkSTNTable( )” is defined in theplaylist file and the block “blkStreamCodingInfo( )” is defined in theclip information file.

FIG. 21 illustrates a data structure of the block “blkPlayItem( )” ofthe AVCHD standard. The block “blkPlayItem( )” is contained in theplaylist discussed with reference to FIGS. 3 and 15.

A 16-bit long field “Length” indicates the entire data length of theblock “blkPlayItem” to the end thereof.

A 40-bit (8 bits×5 bytes) long field “ClipInformationFileName” stores afile name of a clip information file referenced by the block“blkPlayItem.” A 32-bit (8 bits×4 bytes) long field“ClipCodecIdentifier” stores fixed data.

A 4-bit long field “ConnectionCondition” following a 12-bit longpreserved area indicates information relating to connection statebetween clips (seamless connection).

An 8-bit long field “RefToSTCID” indicates which of system time clocks(STC) of the corresponding clip file is referenced. A 32-bit long field“InTime” and a 32-bit long field “OutTime” respectively indicate a startpoint (IN point) and an end point (OUT point) of a play range of a mainclip AV stream in the STC specified by the field “RefToSTCID.”

A block “blkUOMaskTable( )” is a table listing a reception limit to userinput. A 1-bit long field “PlayItemRandomAccessFlag” determines whetherto permit a playitem of the “blkPlayItem” to be randomly accessed.

A 8-bit long field “StillMode,” following a 7-bit long reserved area,indicates whether to display as a still image an image displayed last inthe playitem of the “blkPlayItem.” If the field “StillMode” contains“0x01,” a 16-bit long field “StillTime” indicates a still image time.

On a per stream number (STN) basis, a block “blkSTNTable( )” managesattributes of each type of streams managed by the playitem of the block“blkPlayItem,” a PID number, and a recoding position on a recordingmedium. The block “blkSTNTable( )” is described below.

FIG. 22 illustrates a display style of the block “blkSTNTable( )” of theAVCHD standard.

A 16-bit long field “Length” has the entire data length of the block“blkSTNTable( )” to the end thereof.

The block “blkSTNTable( )” contains a 17-bit long reserved field, an8-bit long field “NumberOfVideoStreamEntries,” an 8-bit long field“NumberOfAudioStreamEntries,” an 8-bit long field“NumberOfOBStreamEntries,” and an 8-bit long field“NumberOfMBStreamEntries.” The field “NumberOfVideoStreamEntries,” thefield “NumberOfAudioStreamEntries,” the field “NumberOfOBStreamEntries,”and the field “NumberOfMBStreamEntries” respectively store the numbersof entries of a video stream, an audio stream, an overlay bitmap stream,and a menu bit stream. In accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention, the overlay bitmap is handled, and the discussion of theother streams is omitted herein.

The overlay bitmap stream is defined by a block “blkStreamEntry( )” anda block “blkStreamAttributes( )”. The block “blkStreamEntry( )” storesan entry for referencing the overlay bitmap stream. The block“blkStreamAttributes” stores attributes of the overlay bitmap stream.

FIG. 23 illustrates a data structure of the block “blkStreamEntry( )” ofthe AVCHD standard.

A 16-bit long field “Length” indicates the entire length of the block“blkStreamEntry( )” to the end thereof. A 16-bit long field “Type”indicates a stream type. A stream type of “1” indicates a main clip, anda stream type of “2” indicates a sub path.

A 16-bit long field “RefToStreamPIDOfMainClip” stores a PID of the mainclip. The main clip of the overlay bitmap stream is referenced by thisPID.

Since the sub path is not used in the overlay bitmap stream, theremaining fields are not discussed herein.

FIG. 24 illustrates a data structure of the block “blkStreamAttributes()” of the AVCHD standard.

A 16-bit long field “Length” indicates the entire length of the block“blkStreamAttributes( )” to the end thereof. A 16-bit long field“StreamCodingType” indicates the type of stream encoding. If the field“StreamCodingType” contains “0x1B,” the corresponding elementary streamis a video stream. If the field “StreamCodingType” contains “0x80,” thecorresponding elementary stream is an audio stream that is encodedthrough linear pulse code modulation (LPCM). If the field“StreamCodingType” contains “0x81,” the corresponding elementary streamis an audio stream encoded through AC-3. If the field “StreamCodingType”contains “0x90,” the corresponding elementary stream is an overlaybitmap stream. If the field “StreamCodingType” contains “0x91,” thecorresponding elementary stream is a menu bitmap stream. The overlaybitmap stream with the field “StreamCodingType” being “0x90” isdescribed below.

A 24-bit (8 bits×3 bytes) long field “OBLanguageCode” indicates alanguage code of the overlay bitmap stream. By referencing this field,the overlay bitmap stream of an intended language is selected.

FIG. 25 illustrates a data structure of the clip information file of theAVCHD standard.

A field “TypeIndicator” in the clip information file, having a datalength of 32 bits (8 bits×4 bytes), is an identifier indicating that thefile type of this file is a clip information file. The field“TypeIndicator2” having a data length of 32 bits stores a fixed value.

The clip information file contains a block “blkClipInfo( ),” a block“blkSequenceInfo( ),” a block “blkProgramInfo( ),” a block “blkCPI( ),”a block “blkClipMark( ),” and a block “blkExtensionData( ).” The startaddresses of the block “blkSequenceInfo( ),” the block “blkProgramInfo(),” the block “blkCPI( ),” the block “blkClipMark( ),” and the block“blkExtensionData( )” are respectively represented by a field“SequenceInfoStartAddress,” a field “ProgramInfoStartAddress,” a field“CPIStartAddress,” a field “ClipMarkStartAddress,” and a field“ExtensionDataStartAddress,” each field having a data length of 32 bits.

The field “ExtensionDataStartAddress” represents the start address ofthe block “blkExtensionData( )” by the relative number of bytes from thehead of the clip information file. The relative number of bytes startswith “zero.” If the field “ExtensionDataStartAddress” is “zero,” thereis no block “blkExtensionData” within the clip information file.

These fields indicating the start addresses are followed by a “reserved”area having a data length of 96 bits. The block “blkClipInfo( )” followsthe reserved area. The block “blkClipInfo( )” contains informationrelated to the clip AV stream managed by the clip information file. Thedata structure of the block “blkClipInfo( )” will be described later.

The block “SequenceInfo( )” contains information that is used to managea sequence of a system time clock (STC) and an arrival time clock (ATC).

The block “blkProgramInfo( )” contains information related to anencoding method of the clip AV stream managed by the clip informationfile and an aspect ratio of video data in the clip AV stream.

The block “blkCPI( )” contains information related to a mapping tablemapping a time position of the stream file to a space position of thestream file. No significant information is contained in the block“blkClipMark( ).”

The block “blkExtensionData( )” permits extension data to be storedtherewithin.

FIG. 26 illustrates a data structure of the block “blkStreamCodingInfo()” of the AVCHD standard. The block “blkStreamCodingInfo( )” iscontained in the block “blkProgramInfo( )” of the clip information file.

A 8-bit long field “Length” indicates a data length extending from theend of the field “Length” to the end of the block “blkStreamCodingInfo().” A 16-bit long field “StreamCodingType” indicates the type of streamencoding and identical to the one discussed with reference to FIG. 24.The overlay bitmap stream with the field “StreamCodingType” being “0x90”is described below.

A 24-bit (8 bits×3 bytes) long filed “OBLanguageCode” indicates alanguage code of the overlay bitmap stream. By referencing this field,the overlay bitmap stream of an intended language is selected.

FIG. 27 illustrates a process to be performed by the informationconverting apparatus 300 in the second configuration thereof inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

The MDP of the above-described user data is searched in the AVCHD streamfile as a conversion source (step S921). The recording time and date areextracted from the fields “REC TIME & DATE 1” and “REC TIME & DATE 2” ofthe hit MDP (step S922).

In response to the extracted recording time and date, the bitmap data isgenerated to match the overlay bitmap stream as a conversion destinationin accordance with the display style specified by the display stylespecifier 329 (step S923). For example, a font type, a font size, a fontstyle, etc. are thus specified.

In response to the display style specified by the display stylespecifier 329, the attribute data of the overlay bitmap stream isgenerated to match the dialog style segment 531 in the BD text subtitle(step S924). For example, the attribute data generated and set containsa position, a display start time, a display end time, a character color,a background color, transparency, etc.

The bitmap data and the attribute data, thus generated, are multiplexedwith the overlay bitmap stream of the AVCHD, moving image and audio, andthen resulting data is recorded (step S925).

These steps are iterated (loop L902) until processing of the AVCHDstream file as a conversion source is completed. Management informationof the overlay bitmap stream of the AVCHD is recorded (step S926). Theconversion process is then completed. The management information of theoverlay bitmap stream may include the above-described blocks“blkSTNTable( )” and “blkStreamCodingInfo( ).”

In the above example, the first additional information storage unit 372stores the MDP of the attribute data and the recording time and date isextracted from the MDP. The retrieval source of the recording time anddate is not limited to the MDP. The recording time and date attached toa chapter mark of the play list may be retrieved as previously discussedwith reference to FIGS. 15 and 16. Alternatively, the recording time anddate may be retrieved from the file system of the stream file of theaudio-visual data.

In the above example, the second additional information storage unit 373handles the overlay bitmap stream of the AVCHD and the recording timeand date is converted into the overlay bitmap stream. The conversiondestination of the recording time and date is not limited to the overlaybitmap stream. For example, the recording time and date may be encodedwith the character superimposed on the video.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, one of theadditional information converters 322 and 332 converts the additionalinformation, retrieved by one of the additional information retrievers321 and 331, in accordance with the display style specified by one ofthe display style specifiers 329 and 339. The additional information,the displaying of which is not necessary by the standard, is displayedon another reproducing apparatus.

The embodiments of the present invention have been discussed forexemplary purposes only, and the correspondence between elements in theembodiments and corresponding elements in claims is described below. Thepresent invention is not limited to the correspondence, and a variety ofchanges is possible to the correspondence within the scope of thepresent invention.

The additional information retrieval means corresponds to one of theadditional information retrievers 321 and 331, for example. Theadditional information converting means corresponds to one of theadditional information converters 322 and 332, for example. Theadditional information recording control means corresponds to one of theadditional information recording controllers 323 and 333, for example.

The display style specifying means corresponds to one of the displaystyle specifiers 329 and 339, for example.

The additional information retrieval means corresponds to the additionalinformation retriever 331, for example. The additional informationconverting means corresponds to the additional information converter332, for example. The additional information recording control meanscorresponds to the additional information recording controller 333, forexample.

The step of retrieving the additional information corresponds to one ofsteps S912 and S922, for example. The step of converting the retrievedadditional information corresponds to one of steps S913 and S914 orsteps S921 and S924, for example. The step of controlling recording ofthe converted additional information corresponds to one of steps S915and S925, for example.

The method steps described in the above embodiments may be considered asa method, as a program for causing a computer to perform the method, oras a recording medium storing the program.

It should be understood by those skilled in the art that variousmodifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alterations may occurdepending on design requirements and other factors insofar as they arewithin the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

1. An information converting apparatus, comprising: additionalinformation retrieval means for retrieving additional informationincidental to moving image data stored on a stream file having a firstrecording format corresponding to the AVCHD standard; additionalinformation converting means for converting the retrieved additionalinformation in accordance with a second recording format correspondingto one of the digital versatile disk standard and the Blu-ray diskstandard, and, in response to the second recording format correspondingto the Blu-ray disk standard, converting the retrieved additionalinformation into a second segment of one of a plurality of packetizedelementary stream packets of a Blu-ray disk standard stream file, thesecond segment following a first segment that defines a display style ofthe additional information, the second segment being of another of theplurality of packetized elementary stream packets of the Blu-ray diskstandard stream file; and additional information recording control meansfor controlling recording of the converted additional information onto astream file having the second recording format.
 2. The informationconverting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the additionalinformation includes image recording time and date of the moving imagedata.
 3. The information converting apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the additional information in the first recording formatincludes data having no display style.
 4. The information convertingapparatus according to claim 1, further comprising display stylespecifying means for specifying the display style of the additionalinformation in the second recording format.
 5. The informationconverting apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the additionalinformation in the first recording format includes information that isrecorded as a modified digital video pack defined by the AVCHD standard.6. The information converting apparatus according to claim 4, whereinthe additional information in the second recording format includes textdata arranged in the display style specified by the display stylespecifying means.
 7. The information converting apparatus according toclaim 4, wherein the additional information in the second recordingformat includes bitmap data arranged in the display style specified bythe display style specifying means.
 8. The information convertingapparatus according to claim 6, wherein the additional information inthe second recording format includes information recorded as a textsubtitle in accordance with the Blu-ray disk standard.
 9. An informationconverting apparatus, comprising: additional information retrieval meansfor retrieving first additional information of moving image datarecorded on a stream file, the first additional information includinginformation recorded as a modified digital video pack defined by theAVCHD standard; additional information converting means for convertingthe retrieved first additional information into second additionalinformation; and additional information recording control means forcontrolling recording of the converted second additional information inthe same recording format as the stream file, wherein the secondadditional information includes information recorded as an overlaybitmap defined by the AVCHD standard.
 10. The information convertingapparatus according to claim 9, further comprising display stylespecifying means for specifying a display style of the second additionalinformation.
 11. The information converting apparatus according to claim10, wherein the first additional information includes data having nodisplay style, and wherein the second additional information includesbitmap data arranged in the display style specified by the display stylespecifying means.
 12. An information converting method that is performedin an information converting apparatus that includes a processor, theinformation converting method comprising steps of: retrieving additionalinformation incidental to moving image data stored on a stream filehaving a first recording format corresponding to the AVCHD standard;converting, using the processor of the information converting apparatus,the retrieved additional information in accordance with a secondrecording format corresponding to one of the digital versatile diskstandard and the Blu-ray disk standard, and, in response to the secondrecording format corresponding to the Blu-ray disk standard, convertingthe retrieved additional information into a second segment of one of aplurality of packetized elementary stream packets of a Blu-ray diskstandard stream file, the second segment following a first segment thatdefines a display style of the additional information, the secondsegment being of another of the plurality of packetized elementarystream packets of the Blu-ray disk standard stream file; and controllingrecording of the converted additional information onto a stream filehaving the second recording format.
 13. A non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium including computer executableinstructions, wherein the instructions, when executed by a computer,cause the computer to perform a method, the method comprising executesteps of : retrieving additional information incidental to moving imagedata stored on a stream file having a first recording formatcorresponding to the AVCHD standard; converting the retrieved additionalinformation in accordance with a second recording format correspondingto one of the digital versatile disk standard and the Blu-ray diskstandard, and, in response to the second recording format correspondingto the Blu-ray disk standard, converting the retrieved additionalinformation into a second segment of one of a plurality of packetizedelementary stream packets of a Blu-ray disk standard stream file, thesecond segment following a first segment that defines a display style ofthe additional information, the second segment being of another of theplurality of packetized elementary stream packets of the Blu-ray diskstandard stream file; and controlling recording of the convertedadditional information onto a stream file having the second recordingformat.
 14. An information converting apparatus, comprising: anadditional information retrieval unit configured to retrieve additionalinformation incidental to moving image data stored on a stream filehaving a first recording format corresponding to the AVCHD standard; anadditional information converting unit configured to convert theretrieved additional information in accordance with a second recordingformat corresponding to one of the digital versatile disk standard andthe Blu-ray disk standard, and, in response to the second recordingformat corresponding to the Blu-ray disk standard, converting theretrieved additional information into a second segment of one of aplurality of packetized elementary stream packets of a Blu-ray diskstandard stream file, the second segment following a first segment thatdefines a display style of the additional information, the secondsegment being of another of the plurality of packetized elementarystream packets of the Blu-ray disk standard stream file; and anadditional information recording control unit configured to controlrecording of the converted additional information onto a stream filehaving the second recording format.
 15. An information convertingapparatus, comprising: an additional information retrieval unitconfigured to retrieve first additional information of moving image datarecorded on a stream file, the first additional information includinginformation recorded as a modified digital video pack defined by theAVCHD standard; an additional information converting unit configured toconvert the retrieved first additional information into secondadditional information; and an additional information recording controlunit configured to control recording of the converted second additionalinformation in the same format as the stream file, wherein the secondadditional information includes information recorded as an overlaybitmap defined by the AVCHD standard.